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Title: Raven: A Trickster Tale from the Pacific Northwest by Gerald McDermott ISBN: 0-15-265661-8 Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books Pub. Date: 30 April, 1993 Format: School & Library Binding Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $16.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 5 (7 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: How Raven brought the people of the world the gift of light
Comment: One of the recurring figures of myths and legends from around the world is the trickster, known as Zemo the Rabbit in West Africa, Jabuti the Tortoise in the Amazon, and Raven in the Pacific Northwest. Indeed, from the coast of the Pacific Northwest to as far north as Alaska it is Raven who is the central character in many Native American myths and tales as a trickster of a cosmic scale, who might be a mischief-maker but who is also a cultural hero. Both brave and cunning, Raven is a shape-shifter who has magical powers. Sometimes he causes havoc with his mischief, but other times he gives his people gifts like that of fire.
In this Caldecott Honor Book "Raven: A Trickster Tale from the Pacific Northwest," Gerald McDermott retells a story that is told in various versions among all the tribes of the area. When he sees that the world was in darkness and the people lived in the dark and the cold Raven wants to give them the gift of light, but that means he has to find out where the Sky Chief keeps that particular treasure. So he goes to the house of the Sky Chief and, seeing the Sky Chief's daughter, Raven changes into a pine needle that falls into the water so that when she takes a drink she swallows the pine needle. Then the girl gives birth to the Raven as a boy child.
Young readers will enjoy the great length to which Raven goes to bring the people of the world the gift of light as well as the way McDermott contrasts the sharp colors of Raven with the pastels of the world in which he lives and plays his tricks. McDermott has written and illustrated many books on myth, such as the Pueblo myth of the "Arrow to the Sun," and the African tale of "Anansi the Spider." Other books in this series tell other tales of the trickster from around the world, giving young readers and teachers alike ample evidence that this is indeed a universal figure. However, children should be warned that as they find other stories of Raven that he is not always as generous as he is in this particular tale.
Rating: 5
Summary: glorious, sumptuous and respectful
Comment: I get antsy when Native American themes and stories appear in children's books. Too often they reek of cultural misappropriation.
But this beautiful book--gorgeous watercolor backgrounds to the Northwest Native American-style imagery--feels respectful, and does a great telling of a favorite Tlingit Haida tale of how light came into the world.
The illustration of the morphing of the Sky Chief's spoiled grandson back into Raven is particularly effective.And when Raven fills the sky with the sun in his beak, it's very easy to buy into this story as a valid creation myth.
I've now bought three copies of this book for various pre-schoolers I know, and all my grown-up friensd who've seen this book have fallen in love with it, too. This is a definite winner, bound to become as classic in its own way as Robert McCloskey's ``Blueberries for Sal.''
Rating: 5
Summary: They ask to listen to it again and again!
Comment: The children in my Pre-K class cannot get enough of this book. The magic of the illustrations and the text has them mesmerized. Many times, when we have finished reading the story, they want to here it again!
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Title: Coyote: A Trickster Tale from the American Southwest by Gerald McDermott ISBN: 0152019588 Publisher: Voyager Books Pub. Date: 19 April, 1999 List Price(USD): $7.00 |
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Title: Zomo the Rabbit: A Trickster Tale from West Africa by Gerald McDermott ISBN: 0152010106 Publisher: Voyager Books Pub. Date: 01 May, 1996 List Price(USD): $7.00 |
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Title: Anansi the Spider: A Tale from the Ashanti (An Owlet Book) by Gerald McDermott ISBN: 0805003118 Publisher: Henry Holt & Company, Inc. Pub. Date: March, 1987 List Price(USD): $6.95 |
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Title: Papagayo: The Mischief Maker by Gerald McDermott ISBN: 0152594647 Publisher: Voyager Books Pub. Date: 15 September, 1992 List Price(USD): $8.00 |
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Title: Arrow to the Sun: A Pueblo Indian Tale (Picture Puffin) by Gerald McDermott ISBN: 0140502114 Publisher: Puffin Pub. Date: February, 1977 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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